There's an intriguing imbroglio unfolding in NFL media circles regarding whether ESPN's Sean Salisbury uttered the word "Jew" during Monday's broadcast of NFL Live. The term was used in connection with Salisbury's discussion regarding the Colts' come-from-behind win over the Patriots on Sunday.

We'd heard about the incident from several readers, and we asked around the blogosphere about it. Our friends at Deadspin.com had the balls (and we respect them for it) to post a carefully-crafted story regarding the issue. And the RandBall blog at StarTribune.com writes that ESPN claims that Salisbury said "chew."

This is what we heard Salisbury say, regarding the approach that the Colts and quarterback Peyton Manning employed on Sunday: "We'll nip, we'll tuck, we'll go, we'll punch, we'll Jew, we'll do it all. And they nickel-and-dimed it and Peyton made the plays when it mattered all through the second half." [Editor's note: We previously had "crunch" in place of "punch." We apologize for the error.]

We reported several months back that Salisbury was suspended by ESPN for a week. Though we didn't disclose the reason for the suspension, it has been reported elsewhere that it was the result of Salisbury taking a picture of his, um, appendage and showing it to others.

We don't know whether Salisbury meant to say "Jew" or whether he was simply talking too fast. But it wasn't "chew," and if ESPN thinks that anyone will believe that, then ESPN thinks we're all stoopid.

Of course, the continued presence of Michael Irvin on the Bristol airwaves pretty much confirms that ESPN thinks we're all stoopid.

And thanks so much to the reader who recorded the audio and sent it to us. We owe you one. (It's just a figure of speech. Please don't ask us for anything.)

Fifteen years ago after an especially disappointing loss to Miami, Esiason, then the Jets' quarterback, was making the seven-mile drive from the Meadowlands back to Manhattan.
While he was slogging through stop-and-go traffic at the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel, the car next to him was violently rear-ended. The quarterback threw his car into park, hopped out and ran to the woman whose car had been hit. She was wearing, of all things, an Esiason jersey, and was utterly shocked when he tapped on her window to check on her.
"Are you OK?" he said, trying to keep calm. "Are you OK?"
"Boomer? Is that you?" she asked the Good Samaritan, sounding disoriented. "I think I'm OK, but . ... "
But what?
"But you guys sucked."
Welcome to the New York Jets, Tim Tebow.

He's been arrested multiple times for drug possession of weed and cocaine. Never crack. And the police "found a multi-colored pipe with marijuana residue inside a Versace sunglass case tucked underneath the driver's seat of his 2005 Mercedes Benz".

thats pretty stupid but i rather have irvin over him anyday of the week.........at least irvin gets good interviews with the players and steve young can crack on him during the pre-game show which is always great

it seems clear to me he said Jew. to get the lowest amount until you have succeeded in gaining the whole part. it also seems that comedians are the last bastion of free speech ala carlos mencia.There are only two Jews.........one being a descendant of the tribe of Judah which there were 13tribes of the nation of Israel and are Hebrews and the other are from "mystery babylon the great " from Nebuchadnezzar "s empire and the Talmud is where they derive their belief system .Babylon under PersiaIn 539 BC the Neo-Babylonian Empire fell to Cyrus the Great, king of Persia. It is said that Cyrus walked through the gates of Babylon without encountering any resistance. He later issued a decree permitting the exiled Jews to return to their own land, and allowed their temple to be rebuilt.these Jews no longer followed the laws of moses but belong to the Synagogue of Satan.

21ST CENTURY NEW YORK STATE OF MIND ."REST IN PEACE NIGHT OWL TOM"Use Caution when reading my comments>.